Carl Goldstein, festival founder and director since its inception in 1972, said this year’s event will feature straight bluegrass, traditional country, upcoming musicians, new groups and bluegrass legends like Marty Stuart.

Stuart, known for this eclectic merging of rockabilly, honky tonk and traditional country music, said “the summer’s not complete without at least one festival.”

“Festivals are sort of open so there’s no place to hide,” Stuart said. “There’s a lot of fellowship.”

When Stuart was a child, he taught himself how to play guitar and mandolin. He began performing with bluegrass group The Sullivans at age 12 and his musical career officially kicked off in Bear, Del., in 1972 when he played mandolin with Nashville Grass after being invited by Lester Flatt bandmember, Roland White.

Marty continued playing with Lester Flatt until the band broke up in 1978. From there, his career took off.

Now, nearly 40 years since his debut, Stuart said he still enjoys the excitement of a live performance.

“We don’t make a habit of playing unplugged, so I’ll come up with a set list on the spot,” he said of the upcoming Bluegrass Festival. “The joy is in the unknown.”

In addition to three days of performances, Goldstein said the festival is full of activities, food, crafts and music.

“There are hundreds of campers playing music in the field all day and all night,” he said. “That’s one of the highlights.”

He said there are also children’s activities like the Kids Academy where children can learn to play acoustic instruments and clogging dance lessons.

“There are all kinds of things going on,” Goldstein said. “My favorite part is being able to get new people, who haven’t played in front of an audience, exposed to the fans.”

Stuart not only enjoys performing for the crowd, but is also looking forward to hearing the other artists.

“I still listen to traditional country music, but I’m always on the lookout for young song writers,” he said. “Brandy Clark is doing some of the best song writing I’ve heard in years. But I still love Johnny Cash and Tammy Wynett.”

Stuart said the secret to longevity as a musician is passion.

“The most important thing is to follow your heart,” is the advice he gives young musicians. “Don’t try to do what someone else is doing, it’s already being done. What we don’t have is original concepts, and original music.

“Play the way you feel, write the way you feel, perform the way you feel and everything will turn out right in the end.”